Want to write your own wedding vows? Try these tips to help you find the right words.Feb. 13, 2012 | By:

When planning a wedding, the majority of the time and money often goes to planning the reception, but the wedding ceremony is truly the heart of the wedding. One of the most important moments in a wedding ceremony is when the vows are recited.

These vows are promises that the bride and groom make to each other in front of all of their guests. Many couples choose to write their own vows, a task that some find a bit intimidating. Below are some tips for writing memorable wedding vows.

Be sincere

The best advice for writing vows for your wedding ceremony is simply to be sincere. Think about what you want your bride or groom to know. What promises do you really want to make on this special day? Make a list and then incorporate some of those items into the vows.

The point of writing your own vows for your wedding ceremony is that they will be personal and unique. By including the promises that are most important to you, you will ensure that your bride or groom will know just how much time and thought you put into writing the vows.

Read other vows

If you are having trouble getting started, look online for sites that discuss wedding vows. You will likely find many examples of vows that others have written. The point is not to copy those vows, but instead to get inspiration that you can use to write your own.

What about humour?

Humour has a place in many public orations, but that is not always the case when it comes to wedding vows. Some brides or grooms take the wedding ceremony very seriously and consider it to be a solemn event. Humour in the vows would seem inappropriate to such brides or grooms.

To other couples, humour would seem appropriate, but even then it should only be in limited amounts. Remember, you are vowing to spend the rest of your life with another person. While a bit of humor may be ok, do not cheapen the moment by turning your vows into a stand-up comedy routine.

Practice - and don’t procrastinate

As soon as you make the decision to write your own vows, you should start making a list as described in the first section of this article. Do not put off the vows until right before the wedding. There are often many last minute things to do in the days just before the wedding and the vows are too important to get put on the back burner.

Also, be sure to practice reciting your vows. You want to be familiar with the vows so that you can use the paper as a reference, but without having to stare at the paper the entire time.

Writing vows for your wedding ceremony is a very sweet and meaningful way to start your lives together. With a bit of focus, you’ll be able to write vows that your spouse will always treasure.